Slopes resident worked to make community better

The tragic death of a promising young man on the South Side Slopes last week cannot pass without comment.

The unfortunate chain of events that led up to this sad end started with his feeling threatened in his own home. Michael Gestrich invested time and money in our neighborhood.

He took a house that should have been condemned and turned it into a home. Before he even moved in, the tools he used to make this remarkable transformation possible were stolen. Security lights, no trespassing signs and a dog didn't make the difference.

In the end the darker element proved stronger. The abandoned property he so meticulously renovated stands empty again. We've all lost.